Accidental advantage

Terrorist attacks on the Indian sub-continent and an impending general election in India have prompted a decision by cricket's Indian Premier League (IPL) to re-locate the 2009 competition overseas. Lalit Modhi, the IPL's Commssioner has stated: "We have to ensure that the quality of the tournament as expected by our fans is delivered to the fullest without any compromise." Given that cricket's most ardent, passionate fans are to be found on the sub-continent, surely any change to the competition's structure will inevitably compromise it? Isn't this particularly the case when cricket in countries such as England, and in the West Indies, is having to fight hard to compete with other, more popular sports? Or will the enforced move have the same effect as that which, for example, the Premier League (e.g. via its 39th Game proposal) and the National Basketball Association (e.g. through its market presence in China) are seeking through their internationalisation strategies? In other words, could adversity inadvertently strengthen the IPL rather than undermining it?